AskMen Selects: Sonos One (Gen 2)

Does the Sonos One (Gen 2) Speaker Live Up to the Hype?

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As someone who stands by the idea that almost any activity can be improved by the right playlist or podcast – headphones and speakers that provide high-quality audio are essential. While my Bose Bluetooth headphones see me through workouts and on-the-go errands, my current small but mighty Bluetooth speaker doesn’t quite fill a room. Which is why I was excited to test out the Sonos One (Gen 2) speaker and see if it lives up to Sonos’ pretty stellar reputation.

Sonos One (Gen 2)

The Review

The Sonos One (Gen 2) is fairly similar to its predecessor – the Gen 1. It is said to have a faster processor and more memory, which will enable it to take on future features that are catered specifically to the Gen 2. It can also be easily mistaken for the Play:1: the two look almost identical with the big difference lying in the Amazon Alexa voice-command capabilities and the top panel design (the Sonos One (Gen 2) features a tap-motivated control panel while the Play:1 has mechanical buttons).

Weighing in at just over 4 lb and standing just above 6 inches, this sleek speaker is about the size of a coffee can, making it unobtrusive and easy to move from room to room. It is available in black and white.

To see how the speaker holds up in a variety of conditions, I decided to put it to the test. While this speaker doesn’t have regular Bluetooth features, it does have Bluetooth Low Energy, which makes connecting your phone to the speaker effortless and efficient. The instructions were incredibly easy to follow. After loading the Sonos app, I had the speaker set up and connected to my phone within a matter of minutes.

I love listening to music while cooking. My bad singing can’t be heard over the stove fan, and it makes the task of stirring or chopping a lot more enjoyable. As I have a Spotify Premium account (Sonos states that only premium accounts will work with its speakers), I was able to effortlessly connect Spotify to the speaker and I could control the music through my Spotify app, the Sonos app and the speaker’s tap controls. The speaker provided a rich, clear sound that went over the fan noise without becoming too bass-heavy or distorted.

Next up, the shower. While the Sonos One (Gen 2) is not waterproof – trust us, don’t verify that one for yourself – it is humidity-resistant. Since I wouldn’t want to reach out with wet hands mid-shower to adjust the speaker volume or use the app on my phone, I decided to put the Sonos’ Alexa skills to the test and ask Alexa to play a podcast while I shower. It took a little while to figure out how to connect my Amazon account to the speaker, but once it was set up I didn’t have any issues. The speaker volume automatically adjusts so you don't have to shout over what's playing. Post-shower, the speaker was in top shape amid the humidity.

While I used Spotify with the Sonos, the app works with more than 50 different streaming music services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play Music, Pandora and SiriusXM.

Note: Google Assistant is said to be launching for some Sonos speakers shortly.

What Stood Out: Advanced Features & Improvements

Voice-Command Capabilities

The ability to control this speaker via voice command is incredibly helpful. Whether you want to dim the lights or connect to your Alexa skills and call an uber or order a pizza, you can do it all while taking care of other tasks at home. And with Google Assistant rolling out soon, users won’t be limited to using one voice-assistant tool.

Sound Quality and Multi-Room Connection

For a relatively small speaker, the Sonos One (Gen 2) has a high volume threshold and it provides a deep, robust sound. I didn’t have another Sonos speaker to connect to in my home, but the ability to connect multiple Sonos speakers together is a definite plus. Through the Sonos app, you can connect any Sonos speaker to another within the home or within the same room.

The Verdict: All-Around Great Speaker

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with the Sonos One (Gen 2). The sound quality was great and the lightweight, compact structure made it easy to transfer it from room to room. The fact that it connects via WiFi and not Bluetooth would be the only con in my book. And while this might not be ideal as the sole speaker for someone living in a large expansive home, it was a perfect fit for my condo and those in larger spaces could easily pair this with a second Sonos model.

For a more in-depth review of the Sonos One (Gen 2) — including a full list of pros, cons and specs — head over to PCMag.